Name an effective ministry that occurred since last gathering. Prayer.
Celebration of an Alive Church (10–15 minutes):
The primary emphasis should be on what is happening. Choose two or three of the
Report on the average attendance at Sunday school and worship, noting the number of visitors and introducing them by name and relevant information.
Briefly observe any deaths, including a celebration of “saints,” or an expression of shared grief over a specific loss.
Celebrate new baptisms and church members.
Give an informal report on how spiritual growth is happening in the congregation.
Provide an update ministry that is shared with another congregation or group.
Share joys and concerns.
Take a moment of personal testimony or witness.
Teach briefly from a recent experience (retreat, training, mission trip, etc.)
Lead a short Bible study.
Reports from Ministry Groups or Teams (20 minutes):
Emphasize what is exciting and being planned to meet your mission goals, including
recommendation of new ventures for council approval. Include:
Nurture ministry (Sunday school, Bible study, fellowship groups, other)
Outreach ministry (mission project, community development, other)
Witness ministry (worship, stewardship, communication, other)
Lay leader and pastor
Other seasonal or special ministry reports, as necessary.
Resource Ministry Reports (20 minutes total): Address how the resource ministry groups can continue to support the congregation’s mission and ministry in terms of facility, staffing, finances, and volunteers. Include the:
Committee on finance
Committee on staff/pastor-parish relations
Committee on lay leadership
Board of trustees
Administrative reports (corrections to minutes from last meeting, financial secretary or church treasurer reports, reminder of next meeting).
Sending or Benediction: Remember that the entire church council must practice careful agenda planning and group process. It is helpful to request minutes and all “action items” coming from committees and ministry groups to be available in printed form for distribution to church council members on the Sunday prior to the regular meeting. This allows time for thoughtful consideration and asking questions about the item.
Making this Agenda work in your Congregation:
The council chairperson should be able to keep the agenda time and items with sensitivity. Make sure that all participants have an opportunity to be heard and not just a few. Whenever you sense there is a split over a decision, ask the group: “Is this a decision that needs to be made at this meeting or can it be made later?” If the group decides to make the decision later, get a consensus on the date. Ask what else the group needs in order to make a good decision. If it is more information, invite the appropriate people to assist.
Discern:Whatever is done in the name of the church is done for God and with God’s help. As leaders, share in Christian practices that help you work as spiritual partners with each other and with God and that provide an avenue to discern the direction that God would have you go. Such discernment not only helps you determine faithfully how best to serve God but also how best to use your gifts and resources. You can’t do everything; are you doing the needful thing?